St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-04-22
A LITTLE TOO ENTERpRnslNG.
A Chicago Publisher Wanted for
Altered Misuse of the Mails.

4 Chicago Publisher Wanted for
Alleged Misuse of the Mails.
CHICAGO, April 21.-It is stated by
local paper that the postoffice authorities
have stopped the delivery of registered mail
to 7. S. Gardner and several publications
by the names of the Farm Journal, Farm
ers' Album and Farming World. 1t is also
said that the department has determined
upon the arrest and prosecution of Gardner,
on the grounds that his publications are "a
swindle on the public and fraud on the
United States mail service" 1t is claimed
that Gardner has for some time been receiv-
ing over fifty registered letters day. each
containing postal order for from SIS to
$12, and has sent out over $50, 600 circulars
and specimen copies of his paper within
three months through the second-class
mails alone. The head of the second-class
mail department in the Chicago Office de-
cided some time ago, it is said, that the
publications named were of the leash
premium" order. Three weeks ago. in ac-
cordance with a regulation of the depart
ment which says: IF postmaster has
reason to doubt that publication offered
as second-class matter has legitimate list
of subscription, he may require the pub
llSiCl tilClCOL W ootiSLy Hill GiitlV IL iidSs
the superintendent stopped some $4,000
copies of the Gardner's Farm Journal and
demanded to be shown the subscribers list.
Three weeks have passed, but the Is, 900
copies are still lying in the basement of the
postoffice. AS Gardner was slow in fur
nishing his subscribers list, the superin-
tendent II
SENT INQUIRIES
to outside pOstmasters regarding thirty per-
sons to whom the Farm journal was adj
dressed. The names of these preSumptive
subscribers were selected at random from
the Is, 600 addressed copies of the publica-
ton. Replies have been received from all.
1t IS claimed that twenty denied being
subscribers and three others admitted hav-
ing subscribed but had not yet received
the publication. Every subscriber was
promised 50 premium order, to be cashed
later, for an outlay of 40 cents. with valu-
able journal thrown in for year, and the
man who got upa club was to get prize of
from $25 to $1,000. From the replies of
subscribers, it is claimed that Gardner had
sent one copy of his paper-a patent sheet
got up in imitation OF genuine periodical
to each person who replied to
his original circular, but had never
paid any attention to the ~clubs
except to take the money. A morning
paper says that the postoffice inspectors
have evidence in hand which District At
torney Ewing believes will secure conyic-
tion, the full penalty in which case will be
a fine of $500 and eighteen months impris-
onment. Gardner's offices in this city are
in the Scott block, corner of West Van
Buren, street aud Hermitage avenue. where
he employs twenty-five to thirty young
women mailing his circulars. Since the
postofice people here have begun to make
it unpleasant for him it is stated that he
has opened up in Cincinnati. His circulars
from that city are ornamented with large
picture of fine block at the corner of Sixth
and Vine streets. 1t Is said the postoffice
authorities sent man to Cincinnati yes
terday to effect Gardner's arrest, but they
refused to give any information.